Car-coupling.



PATBNTBD SEPT. 11, 190s.

No. 830,715. G. A. HERMANSON.

GAR 0011121.11111.' APPLICATION FILED APB.2,1906.

Inl/mr.' GMSZZ )Yer/flaw@ THE lymmls PETERS co., wAsq/Ncron. D. c.

NIS

UNITED sTATs PATENT OFFICE.

`eUsTAF A. HERMANsoN, or cHreAGo, ILLrNois, AssicNoR To JAMES Y MUNToN, or MAYwooD, ILLiNoIs Speccation'of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

To all whom; it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ,GUSTAF A. HERMAN-- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago,- in the county of Cook and State' of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplers, of which thev following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplers of the Master Car-Builders type, having a forked draw-head, pivoted knuckle, and vertically-movable lock.

In Master Car-Builders couplers heretofore in use the lock is not adapted to be lifted or the cars uncoupled while the knuckle is under tension or strain, itbeing necessary tov produce slack between the coupled cars and relieve. the knuckle from strain or tension before the lock can be moved or lifted, andI this inpractical operation frequentlyvcauses linconvenience and delay; and it is the ob'ect of myfinvention` to furnish a Master ar- Builders coupler of a simple, strong, efficient, safe, reliable, and durable construction in which the lockmay be lifted and the cars uncoupled while the knuckle is under tension or strain, so that it will not be necessary to produce slack in the train to relieve the knuckle vfrom tension in order to lift the lock and uncouple cars, as has heretofore been the case..i

My invention consists in the means I have devised and employ to accomplish this result-that is to say, it consists, in connection with'the draw-head and knuckle, of any suitable construction, of a movable lock having a tapering or `Wedging llower v,end and provided with a cooperating wedging extension slidably' connected with the lock, the lock and draw-head being provided with coperatinglocking-shoulders to'hold the lock in place and from creeping upward, and a movable keeper, preferably hinged to the lock near its yupper end and adapted to engage a projection or ledge on the draw-head to keep the lockin -shoulders on the draw-head and lock normally in engagement with each other, the clevis of the lifting-lever serving to unlatch or disengage the keeper at the initial lifting movement and the inclined or wedging end of the lock enabling it to be raised while under tension of the draw-head and knuckle. Y

My invention also consists in the novel construction of partsand devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming al Aplimion'siea'Aprii 2,1906. serial No. 309,251.

part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in central vertical longitudmal section, of a car-coupler embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the lock. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the lock extension. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. l; and Fig. 6 is a view similar 'to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

In the drawings, A represents the drawbar; A', the draw-head, having the customvary guard-arm a and pivot-arm a.

B is the knuckle, having the customary front arm or nose b and rear arm or tail 12"; C, the pivot-pin; D, the lock; F, the movable keeper for the lock, G, the lifting-lever, and Grl the clevis connecting the lifting-lever with the lock and the keeper.

The lock D is furnishedwith 4an incline or wedging portiond, preferably at. or near its lower end, engaging a cooperative incline or wedging portion d preferably on a separatepiece extension D of the lock, which is slidably .connected with the lock D, preferably Vby aninterengaging slot d2 on the one part and hook or projection d3 on the other part, the slotbeing preferably in the lock and the projection inthe separate-piece slidable eX- tension. D of the lock. The angle of these cooperating inclines or wedging portions is such that when the lock is under tension of the knuckle, as illustrated in Fig. 5, the lock can be readily lifted, the strain of the knuckle upon the lock either tending normally to raise the lock or so nearly approaching a neutral tendency as to enable the lock to be readily raised by the lifting-lever while the lock is under tension. The angle of these cooperating inclines may be so adjusted as to lpermit the lock to be raised by the lifting-le-v ver while it 1s under partial tension or strain of the knuckle and prevent its being so lifted when the lock is under full strain or tension of the knuckle, as it ordinarily is not desired 'to uncouple the cars while the couplers are under full strain or load of the train, although it is very desirable that the coupler should be capable of uncoupling the cars when the same are under partial strain or tension, so that the brakeman will not have to Wait until each coupler is entirely loose and free from strain before he can lift the lock and effect an uncoupling. To hold my under-tension uncoupling-lock securely in position and prevent all danger of IOO its being lifted or crowded upWard by reason of the tension of the knuckle on its incline or wedging portion, I provide the draw-head and lock with interengaging locking-shoulders a2 and d5, the latter being on the front side of the lock and adapted to be disengaged from the cooperating shoulder a2 on the draw-- movement of head by the initial backward the same is to the upper end of the lock when be raised by the lifting-lever.

To hold the the draw-head and lock normally in engagement with each other, I provide the lock with a rocking or movable keeper F, having a lip or hook f engaging a cooperating lip a3 on the draw-head, and to which the clevis G of the lifting-lever Gis directly connected, preferably by the clevis-pin g, and Which has a sliding or loose connection d With the lock, this sliding or loose connection preferably vconsisting simply in an upright slot in the lug al of the lock. The first movement of the lifting-lever and clevis thus unlatches or ,dlsengages the keeper F from the draw-head and permits the lock to then tilt backward when pulled upon by the lifting-lever, and thus disengage the locking-shoulders d5 and a2 from each other, so that the lock can be lifted and so that the incline or Wedging portion d of the lock may enable the lock to be lifted While it remains under tension of the knuckle to a greater or less extent.

The rear end f2 of the keeper F may preferably fulcrum upon the cap or flange d8 of the lock. This cap or flange is preferably inclined, and the upper face a4 of the drawhead, against which this lock cap or flange fits, is also preferably forwardly and down- Wardly inclined, so that the upper end of the lock will normally tilt or move forward.

The lock D or its Aseparate-piece extension D may preferably be furnished with the customary lock-set shoulders or ledges d d10 to engage the draw-head or knuckle-tail and set or hold the lock in position for coupling .or uncoupling.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 6 the lock is made in one piece, and the separate-piece extension D is omitted, and the incline or Wedging portion Which cooperates with the incline or Wedging portion d on the lock is formed on the draw-head itself instead of upon a separate-piece extension of the lock. In Fig. 6 the cooperating incline or Wedging portion is marked du.

claim` 1. In a car-coupler, the combination With a draw-head and knuckle, of a movable lock having an incline or Wedging portion engaging a cooperating incline or Wedging portion to enable the lock to be release and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, cooperating locking-shoulders on the draw-head and lock to hold.the lock normally closed, and a movable keeper to cooperating shoulders a2 on,

hold the locking-shoul'derso the lock and draw-head normally in engagement, said movable keeper having a loose connection With the lock to cause it to be unlatched or disengaged by the initial movement of the lifting-lever or its clevis, substantially as specied.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination With a draw-head a-nd knuckle, of a movable lock having an incline or wedging portion engaging a cooperating incline or Wedging portion to enable the lock to be released and raised When the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, cooperating locking-shoulders on the draw-head. and lock to hold the lock normally closed, and a movable keeper to hold the locking-shoulders on the lock and drawhead normally in engagement, said movable keeper having a loose connection With the look to causeit to be unlatched or disengaged by the initial movement of the lifting-lever or clevis, said cooperating incline or Wedging portion being on a separate-piece extension of the lock, substantially as specified.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination With a draw-head and knuckle, of a movable lock having an incline or Wedging portion engaging a cooperating incline or Wedging portion to enable the lock to be released and raised When the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, cooperating locking-shoulders on the draw-head and lock tohold the lock normally closed, and a movable keeper to hold the locking-shoulders on the llock and draw --head normally in engagement, said movable keeper having a loose connection With the lock to cause 1t to be unlatched or disengaged by the initial movement of the lifting-lever or clevis, said cooperating incline or. Wedging portion being on a separatepiece extension of the lock, andv said separatepiece extension having a sliding connection with the lock, substantially as specified.

4. In a car-couplen'the combination With the draw-head and knuckle, of a movable lock having an incline or Wedging portion, a separate-piece extension of the lock having a sliding connection with the lock and provided With a cooperating incline or Wedging portion, to enable the lock to be raised When under tension of the knuckle and means for holding the lock in its normal or closed position, substantially as specified.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with the draw-head and knuckle, of a movable lock having an incline or Wedging portion, separate-piece extension of the lock having a sliding connection with the lock a'nd provided with a coo erating incline or Wedging portion to ena le the lock to be raised When under tension of the knuckle, means for holding the lock in its normal or closed Iposition and means for releasing` said holding means, substantially as specified.

'6. In a car-coupler, the combination With a TOO IOS

draw-head and knuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging portion to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, the lock and draw-head having interengaging locking-shoulders to hold the lock in its normal or closed position, and a movable keeper for holding said locking-shoulders normally in engagement, substantially as speciiied.

7. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and knuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging portion to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, the lock and draw-head having interengaging locking-shoulders to hold the lock in its normal or closed position, and a movable keeper for holding said locking-shoulders normally in engagement, said movable keeper having a loose or sliding connection with the lock, and a lifting-lever connected to the keeper, substantially as specified.

8. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and apivoted knuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under'tension, said lock being provided with a separate-piece extension having a tapering or wedging upper end bearing against the wedging or tapering lower end of the lock, substantially as speciiied.

9. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and a pivoted knuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when theknuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, said lock being provided with a separate-piece'extension having a tapering or wedging upper end bearing against the wedging or tapering lower end of the lock, said sep arate-piece eXtensionhaving a loose or sliding connection with the lock, substantially as specified.

10. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and apivoted knuckle, of a mov-- able lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, the draw-head having a shoulder or projection to prevent the lock from creeping, and the lock having at its upper end a coperating shoulder engaging said shoulder on the draw-head to prevent the lock from creeping, substantially as specified.

1l. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and a pivoted knuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, said lock being provided with a separate-piece extension having a tapering or wedging upper end bearing against the wedging or tapering lower end of.

the lock, the draw-head having a shoulder or projection to prevent the lock from creeping and the lock having at its upper end a coper ating shoulder engaging said shoulder on the draw-head to prevent the lock from creeping, substantially as specified.

12. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and a pivotedknuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, the draw-head having a shoulder or projection to prevent the lock Jfrom creeping, and the lock having at its upper end a coperating shoulder engaging said shoulder on the draw-head to prevent the lock from creeping, and a movable keeper on the upper end of the lock engaging a projection on the draw-head to hold said creeperprevention shoulders on the lock and drawiead in engagement, substantially as speci- 13. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and a pivoted knuckle, of amovable lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension7 said lock being provided with a separate-piece extension having a tapering or wedging upper end bearing against the wedging or tapering lower end of the lock, said tapering-piece extension having a loose or sliding connection with the lock, the drawhead having a shoulder or projection to prevent the lock from creeping, and the lock having at its upper end a coperating shoulder engaging said shoulder on the draw-head to prevent the lock from creeping, substantially as speciiied.

14. In a car-coupler, the combination with a draw-head and a pivoted knuckle, of a movable lock having a tapering or wedging lower end to enable the lock to be released and raised when the knuckle bearing against the lock is under tension, said lock being provided with a separate-piece extension having a tapering or wedging upper end bearing against the wedging or tapering lower end of the lock, said separate extension having a loose or sliding connection with the lock, the draw-head having a shoulder or projection to prevent the lock from creeping, and the` lock having at its upper end a coperating shoulder engaging said shoulder on the drawhead to prevent the lock from creeping, and a movable keeper on the upper end of the IOO IIO

lock engaging a projection on the draw-head to hold said creeper-prevention shoulders on the lock and draw-head in engagement, substantially as specified.

GUSTAF A. I'IERMANSON.

Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADoooK. 

